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Another day, anotheronline-centricgame launching to widespread server issues. This time it's the PlayStation 4's DriveClub, whose servers are apparently causing so many problems for launch day customers that Sony and developer Evolution Studios have indefinitely delayed a planned "PlayStation Plus" edition that would have given limited access to millions more.

"We are seeing a lot of activity and new social behaviors right now, but unfortunately this is pushing the servers to their absolute limits," Evolution Studios Director Paul Rustchynsky wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday morning. "In order to help all DriveClub players who have the game already, we're temporarily holding back the PS Plus Edition and the My DriveClub app to ease the load and traffic to the servers. This should give players a better chance of connecting to the game servers and, once the servers are operating well, we’ll be sure to let you know when the PS Plus Edition and My DriveClub app will be available to download."

Further Reading

While DriveClub does have a limited single-player mode, operating servers are necessary to join clubs with other players and compete in the online challenges and time trials that form the bulk of the game. The PS Plus edition, which was supposed to launch alongside the full game, will give PlayStation Plus subscribers free access to 11 tracks and a limited selection of cars.

Evolution first acknowledged the server issues Tuesday afternoon, following the game's North American launch that morning. "We are aware however that many players are receiving an error message indicating 'there is a fault with your Internet connection' and we are investigating what appears to be a wider server issue behind this problem," the note reads in part. Sony posted on its online support page as well: "We are aware of issues that players are experiencing with some of our titles on the PlayStation Network. Engineers are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible."

Originally planned as a PS4 launch title, DriveClub was delayed for almost a year to give the development team time to deliver a "truly innovative, socially connected racing game," as Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide President Shuhei Yoshida said at the time.

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Kyle Orland
Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. Emailkyle.orland@arstechnica.com//Twitter@KyleOrl